Many of you will have seen that the Premier League announced this ‘new’ account – https://www.premierleague.com/news/4081343 – aimed to provide users of ‘X’ (twitter) with near-live VAR decision explainers and updates on operational and officiating matters for every Premier League match.
Ignoring the obvious need to sign up to a social media platform that many people have serious concerns about, those of us that attend games know that connecting to the internet within a stadium is nearly impossible. This gives greater relevance to the motion three passed at the recent Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) AGM – https://thefsa.org.uk/news/round-up-fsa-agm-2024/ – the motion focuses on the VAR match day experience and now requires the FSA to lobby the Premier League to introduce:
a. A clear set of Premier League protocols covering what must be displayed, announced, and replayed as part of a ‘match delayed VAR review’.
b. The FSA support the transition towards live ‘in stadium’ referee communications and video replays.
c. The FSA will continue dialogue with both the PGMOL and Premier League to ensure that best practice both within football, and other comparable sports, is adopted by the Premier League.
d. Minimum standards of wi-fi connectivity across all Premier League Stadiums.
e. The provision of large screens that can be seen by the majority of attending spectators.
In respect of the PL initiative to provide ‘near live VAR explainers’ via X it would be useful to understand who the PL are targeting this service at, as it stands it looks like another service for the TV watcher, rather than match going fans?
(First published by the FSA)